Cutting Corners

My office has a daily tradition of Ping Pong battles. I don't play, because most games are too testosterone filled to waste time on a learner. Today the game was decided by one point- a point scored so close to the corner of the table it shouldn't have counted. The two boys battled back and forth about who should really have won the game.

Made me think about all the times we run by the skin of our teeth. We hope that the ball barely bouncing off the corner of the table is called fair. Do we, too often, hope that we can cut the corners?

I run with the expectation in myself that I do my best. I rest easy at night knowing I gave something a full shot. It is not often that I scrape by, with just a lucky call. When it comes to work, I have found myself not feeling that the points were scored fair. In my line of work, I manage a book of accounts. I am responsible for their success and growth. I recently transferred to a new Book of Business, tearfully leaving behind accounts that I have loved and nurtured.

I found my replacement cutting corners- the accounts that I had taken so much pride in were being neglected. I was frustrated, I felt like a year of working to build trust and relationships had been wasted. I went to the gym to work out my frustrations, but found myself distracted and cutting corners.

How often do we do the bare minimum? How often are we distracted and cut corners because we aren't putting our time and effort behind our work? Where else am I cutting corners that I haven't noticed? I need to focus my mind and see where I can tighten up the slack in my life.

Ask or Lose It

There are times in our lives where we realize how much we want something- so we ask for it. Unfortunately there are also times where we let those little things pass by without giving them the chance. We often live in a limbo of fearing rejection and a fear of losing what we want. Neglecting the cold truth that by asking, we increase our chance of receiving what we want.

Each of us experiences this dilemma at times. Maybe it was your mom asking what you wanted for Christmas. You just didn't know how to ask for something, because it seemed so selfish. Perhaps standing in the store one day clutching a shirt you knew you definitely didn't need. But the want was there- and we all do the wants vs. needs battle every time we make a choice.

The other day, while rolling this debate through my head, I came to the conclusion that there was no just reason to not ask. So mustering up the courage- I asked. Over the last 3 weeks, I have made a sincere point to be clear in how I communicate my wants.

There are so many little things, we all want. We let them pass by- we don't ask! What makes us so afraid to actually ask for what we want? If you want a raise at work, ask. If you want help in the kitchen doing dishes, ask! If you want someone to call or text you or just be on time, ask. We can't expect our little desires to be met, if we aren't putting it out there that we want it.

My roommate's boy got mad at her the other day because she spent an hour and a half at the gym. He expected that it would only be 45 minutes. He sat there huffing and puffing, wondering where she was. But he missed one crucial step, he forgot to communicate.

One of the most crucial of life's little challenges is asking for what we want. Don't let it bother you when others ask for things from you. Realize that they are setting clear markers and move forward to meet those needs. If you do this, in return, you will never go without something you really want.

If I am honest with myself about my real wants, then it becomes easier to ask. To let those around me know what I actually want and need. And the only way they will ever know things is if I ask.